Ignition and charging system.



S.L.LEBBY. IGNITION AND CHARGING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 3, 1914.-

1,174,742 Patented Mar. 7,1916.

'nnTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v STATES LEE LEBBY, OF CHARLESTON, SOITTH CAROLINA.

IGNI'IICN AND CHARGING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

5 Be it known that I, STATES LEE LEBBY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, county of Charleston, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition and Charging Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates toignition' and lighting systems for vehicles, motor boats, railway cars, and the like, and consists of improvements in the system described and claimed in my Patent No. LOT-1,399 granted November 12, 1912. In said system a storage battery is charged from a direct current' generator having a permanent magnetic field and driven by a prime mover. Both lighting and ignition circuits are fed from this battery. The ignition circuit and the charging circuit are provided withseprate but mechanically interlocking switches, so arranged that when the ignition circuit isopened the charging circuit is also opened, and the charging circuit. cannot be closed before the ignition circuit is closed.

'By this means the generator is not con nected with the battery until the prime mover has been started. and short-circuiting of the battery through the gene ator while the generator is idle is impossible. It is possible. howe erin the patented s stem,

to first close the ignition circuit andthen after the prime mover has been started, close the charg ng circuit. Since the enerator is rovided with a pe manent field there is always excitation suffic ent for the "generator to produce an opposing voltage thereby excited before the generator charging circuit is closed. I have also arranged the circuits so'that the proper voltage may be em loyed for igniting.

In theaccompanying drawings I show one embodiment of my invention.

igs 1 he di er-sen te insane Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. *7, 1916.

Application filedJune 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,755.

of the system as a whole and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the charging and ignition switches as mounted upontheir panel.

The various elements of the system are characterized as follows, identification thereof being by means of the reference numerals by which they are designated upon the drawings: I (10) The prime mover. A portion of one cylinder of a reciprocating internal combustion engine is here indicated. course understood that the s stem may be associated with a multiple cylinder engine, or a motor ofany other type.

(11) A sparking device such as the ignition plug commonly used. and which may or may not include an induction coil in its own structure. Instead of a high tension plug, this may be a low tension sparking.

device, or' a sparking device of any other type wh ch may be supplied with energy from an electrlcal source. The usual saark It is of coil may be insulated at any point in the circuitof device (lll.

(12) The electric lights.

' (13) The storage battery from which the sparking device (11) and the lights (12} are fed. This storage battery may be of any approved type. i

' (14-) The generator from which the storage ba tery (13) is char ed, and wh ch is normally driven from the prime mover.

Under s ecial conditions it may be driven by hand or from any suitable source of power as is well understood in the art.

(15) The field w nd ng of the gener tor (14). As shown" this is a shunt wind ng.

If my invention is embodied in certain other s stems, this wind ng may be series. In series wi h it is an} ordinary field'rheostat as indicated.

(16) A double pole single throw switch b means of which one pole of generator (149 and the sparking device (11) may be connected with the battery through the cond ctors shown. This pole of the genera or (1.4;) is common also to the s arking device (11\ being connected with the grounded s de thereof. It is connected b switch (16) with one terminal of the battery (13).

I T he oher terminal of the sparking device (11) is connected'bv switch (lfil approxi- 1 0 5 .met yeea allre t e a t y thi hs-eby the sparking device (11) receives ap proximately one-half of the full voltage of the battery.

(17) A single pole single throw switch by means of which the remaining terminal of generator (1%) may be connected with the opposite terminal of battery (13).

(18) A current limiting resistance of iron wire or other suitable material through which the aforesaid connection is efiected.

(19) A current limiting fuse or other overload circuit breaking. device in series with said resistance (18).

(20) The control switch of the lighting circuit.

(21) A fuse or other device limiting the current fiow in the lighting circuit.

(22) An extension of insulating material from switch (16) which underlies the blade of switch (17) and constitutes the interlock or" my prior patent referred to. The detail of this is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Any other form of in erlock may of course be substituted for this.

(23) The control terminal of the circuit of generator field (15). This is located in termediate the other two terminals of charging switch (17) and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 is considerably higher, wherebv the circuit of the generator field (15) is closed bet'ore the charging circuit to the armature. Th s is clearly shown by the do ted line posit on of the switch in Fig. 2. In order to effect this and vet permit the interlocking extension (22) to be an extens on of the usual bridge bar of the double pole switch, the lower terminal of switch (17) is also made higher than the upper and the switch blade is pro ided with a front ex ension or prong co'a'perat ne' with the uppe contacts. wherrbv the bl de of s itch (17) l es when cl sed arallel to but above the blades of swi ch (16).

('2 A fuse or other o e load circuit b ea n de ce in the circuit of the sparkin de ice (11).

.The operation is as f llows: In starting, the prime mover switch (16) should be cl sed first. thus placing battery upon the sparking device (11), whereupon the prime mover 10) may be started. If a mistake should be made and it be attempted to close first the switch (17), opposition will be encountered owing to the interlock between the two switches (16) and (17). Switch (16) having been properly closed first, switch 17) may then be closed without danger of damageto the battery or to the generator or even of imposing a temporary overload upon the generator. In closing it the circuit of the exciting field (15) is closed and the field excited through engagement of the switch blade with terminal (28) before the charging circuit to they armatureis closed tlnouglfresistance (18') "Thereby,"theprime mover (10) having been started, the instant the charging circuit is closed, generator voltage is impressed upon the battery. Mloreover this voltage is, owing to the excitation of field (15) from the battery, exactly proportional to the voltage o1 the battery and therefore precisely the proper voltage to be applied thereto for charging. It

. 1s of course assumed that the speed of the prime mover is adjusted between proper limits but even in case the speed should vary from proper limits, it is impossible under these circumstances to impress a damaging voltage upon the battery. Under these conditions, operation may be continued indefinitely. At any time desired, the lights (12) may; be lighted by simply closing the switch When it is desired to stop the prime mover (10), the ignition switch (16) is thrown open and simultaneously by reason of the interlock (22), the charging circuit is opened at switch (17). 1f while stopped the ignition and charging switches should be bcth closed without starting the prime mover (10), resistance (18) will limit the current flow from battery (13) through gonorator (14) to a maximum which will not damage the battery though it will result in complete discharge or the battery in time Due to the fact that the generator field is excited from the storage battery, I not only get an instant adjustment of charge current to battery, but I also get an instantly excited field without dependence on residual magnetism, a properly polarized field, and being a constant field 1 get no excessive charge rate from increase in field, due to in crease in speed or racing of prime mover, a feature of radical improvement over all other similar systems within my knowledge.

I am aware that a number of changes, both mechanical and electrical, may be made in the embodiment of my invention thus described. I wish it understood that I contemplate and include herein all such changes and modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims, specific language being employed herein for purposes of definition and not of limitation.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patout is 1. In a system of the class described. a storage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exciting field winding, a prime mover for the dynamo, an electric circuit controlling the starting and running of said prime mover supplied with current from the storage battery, a charging circuit extending from said dynamo, a field circuit connected to its field winding, and switching apparatus comprising the following instrumentalities: an element controlling ,the-ci1-- "cult otthe primemover, an elenrentat'lapted to connect the field circuit to the storage battery, and an element thereafter adapted tov connect the charging circuit from the dyvnamo to the storage battery.

2. In a system of the class described, a storage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exciting field winding, a prime mover for the dynamo, an electriccircuit controlling the starting and running of said prime mover supplied'with current from'the storage battery, a charging circuit extending from said dynamo,a field circuit connected to its field winding, and switching apparatus comprising the following, instrue mentalities: an element controlling the circuitof the prime mover, a switch element connected to the storage battery, and two cooperating elements, one connected to the field circuit of the dynamo andthe other to the charging circuit therefrom, these elements adapted to be closed together in operation in the order named, whereby the field circuit "will. also be properly excited before the charging circuit is closed.

3. In a system'of the class described, a

7 storage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exciting field winding, a prime mover for the dynamo, an electric circuit controlling the starting and running of said prime mover supplied with current from the storage battery, a charging circuit extending from said dynamo, a field circuit connected to-its field winding, and switching apparatus comprising the following instrumentalities: an element controlling the circult of the prime mover, a knife switch having three terminals, one amovable terminal,

or blade, and two cooperating fixed terminals adapted to be closed on the first termi nal successively,one of said terminals connected to the field circuit and the other to i i the charging circuit, the shape and proportions of the elements being such that the field circuitterminal must be closed before the charging circuit terminal is reached.

4:. In a system of the class described,a

storage battery, a charging dynamo there-- for havin an excitin field windin a a m prime mover for the dynamo, an electric c1rcuit controlling the starting and running of said prime mover supplied with current from the storage battery, a charging circuit extendmg from sa1d dynamo, a field c1rcu1t connected to its field winding, and switching apparatus comprising thefollowing instrumentalities: an element controlling the circuit of the prime mover, a knife blade switch having its blade connected to the storage battery, and two cooperating terminal clips one longer than the other and therer by making contact with the blade before the other, said long clip being connected to the field circuit of the dynamo and the short clip to the charging circuit therefrom.

5. Ina system of the class described, a

storagebattery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exc1t1ng field winding, a charging 1 storage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exciting field winding, a charging c1rcu1t extending from said dynamo, a

field circuit connected to its fieldwinding,

a primemover for said dynamo, an electric circuit controlling the starting and running ofsaid prime mover supplied with current from the dynamo storage battery, and

- switching apparatus for the several circuits.

comprising the following instrumentalities:

switching elements for the field and charging circuits from the dynamo,-and a separate switchingelement controlling the cir cuit to the prime mover, together with connections such thatthe prime mover circuit must first be closed before the field and charging circuits of the dynamo can be closed. p

6. In asystem of the class described, a

circuit extending from said dynamo, a field c1rcu1t connected to nits field'wlnding, a

prime mover for said dynamo, an electric fclrcuit controlhng the starting and running.

ofsaid prime mover supplied with current from the dynamo storage battery, and

' switching apparatus for the'several circuits com'pr1s1ng the following instrumentallties: switchmg elements for the field and -chargthe circuits to the dynamo.

7. In a system of the class described, a storage battery, a charging dynamo having an exciting field winding, a charging circuit extending from said dynamo. afield circuit connected to the field winding, a prime mover for said dynamo, an electric circuit controlling the starting and running ofsaid prime mover supplied with current from the dynamo and storage battery, and switching apparatus for the several circuits comprising the following instrumentalities: switching elements for thefield and charging circuits from the dynamo, and a separate switch-. ing element controlling the circuit to the prime mover, together with connections such that the prime mover circuit must first be .closed before the field and charging circuits of'the dynamo can be closed, the switching connections of the field and charging circuits being so arranged that in closing the several circuits, the field circuit of the dynamo must be closed before the charging circuit can be closed.

, 8. In a system of the class described, astorage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an exciting field winding, a charging and charging circuit; and-third, other separate elements adapted to close the lighting circuit on the terminals of the storage battery; said second elements being arranged so that they can only be closed when the controlling circuit of the prime mover is closed.

9. In a system of the class described, a storage battery, a charging dynamo therefor having an'exciting field winding, a charging circuit extending from said dynamo, a field circuit connected to its field winding, a prime mover for the dynamo, acontrolling circuit for said prime mover adapted to receive current from the dynamo, lighting means, a circuit for said lighting means, and switching apparatus comprising the following instrumenta'lities: first, switching elements adapted to close the controlling circuit for the prime mover; second, separate Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

elements adapted to close the dynamo field and charging circuit, and third, other sep* arate elements adapted to close the lighting circuit on the terminals of the storage battery; said second elements being arranged so that they can only be closed when the controlling circuit of the prime mover is closed, and also arranged so that the field circuit of the dynamo will automatically be closed be fore the charging circuit, whereby first the battery can-never discharge throughthe dynamo, the latter being always properly excited before the charging circuit is closed, second the charging and field circuits can never be closed except when the prime mover circuit is closed to properly drive the dy name, and third, the lighting load will be carried by the battery under normal conditions with all of the dynamo circuits disconnected, and when the latter are connected and the prime mover properly operated, the lighting load will be carried by the dynamo with the battery floated on the circuit for charging.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STATES LEE LEBBY. Witnesses:

H. STEVENS i VHrrn,

Washington, D. G. 

